HONORS and APPOINTMENTS

School of Medicine Students Selected as NIH All of Us Research Scholars

Three LSU Health Shreveport second year medical students were chosen to participate in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) All of Us Research Scholar Program: Raegan Abadie, Nicholas Jones and Tyler Tran. The NIH All of Us Research Scholars program aims to address the critical need to reduce disparities in healthcare and the biomedical workforce by supporting young researchers. During the eight months of the program, as they continued as full-time medical students, our students conducted an individual research project, received skills training and connected with a mentor for professional development.

Abadie, Jones and Tran each designed a research project of their choosing utilizing the diverse dataset from the All of Us Research Hub, a dataset with over 556,000 participants, 338,000 electronic health records and 410,000 biosamples available to researchers. Tyler Tran was chosen to present at the All of Us Research Virtual Convention on March 29.

Raegan Abadie Correlation between Female Infertility and Obesity in Different United States Regions

“My research project is focused on the correlation of female infertility and obesity in different United States regions and the comparison to medically underserved areas of the USA. With this research, I hope to draw awareness to the high rates of female infertility in medically underserved obsess areas. I gained experience with research methods and techniques that helped me grow as a researcher with the guidance of an experienced mentor during the program.”

Nicholas Jones

A Cohort Study on the Effects of Genetic Polymorphisms and Environmental Factors on the Development of Asthma

“The long-term goal of this study is to understand genetic inheritance and the economic relationship with the risk for asthma development and to bridge gaps in the literature. As I complete the program, I am thankful for the opportunity to work with the NIH Workbench and the All of Us Research Program and for participants who submitted data. I’m grateful to have been able to design my project, complete a poster and present my research to a national audience.”

Tyler Tran

Race and Gender Differences in High Density Lipoprotein in Myocardial Infarction

“My research is on the association of decreased plasma HDL cholesterol and risk of myocardial infarction in racial and gender populations. The number one factor that distinguishes this program from other research programs is the ability to work at our own pace remotely while still having access to an experienced mentor, a remote research workspace and a variety of remote research resources. Thanks to this program, I’ve been able to develop a research topic emphasizing my interests in medicine without disrupting my academic goals.”

J. Steven Alexander, PhD

Sami Bahna, MD, DrPH

Pat Bass, MD

Randal Buddington, PhD

Nicholas Goeders, PhD

Shile Huang, PhD

Sushil Jain, PhD

Chris Kevil, PhD

Kenneth McMartin, PhD

Cherie-Ann Nathan, MD, FACS

Yuping Wang, MD, PhD

HONORS and APPOINTMENTS

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Physical Therapy Program joined a multicenter trial with the University of Pittsburgh, funded by the Department of Defense, entitled “STaR Trial for MultiLigament Knee Injuries.”

Richa Aishwarya, PhD, was awarded an American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Nirjhar Aloy, PhD Candidate, received the FWCC Carroll Feist Pre-Doctoral Fellowship for his project “The Role of Alpha-Synuclein in Regulation of Trafficking of Multivesicular Bodies and the Release of Extracellular Vesicles in Melanoma Cells.”

Siyuan Cheng, PhD, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Fellow, received the FWCC Carroll Feist PostDoctoral Fellowship for his project “The Binary Function of Notch Signaling in Prostate Cancer Progression.”

Alexandra Finney, PhD, Pathology and Translational Pathobiology Fellow, was awarded an American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Mychal Grames, PhD Candidate, Pharmacology, Toxicology, & Neuroscience, received the Biotechnology Specialty Section Student Achievement Award from the Society of Toxicology.

Samina Hayat, MD, Division Chief and Professor of Rheumatology and Director of CEAR, was designated a Master of the American College of Rheumatology.

Alan D. Kaye, MD, PhD, DABA, DABPM, DABIPP, FASA, Professor of Anesthesiology and Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians.

Lin Li, PhD Candidate, received the FWCC Carroll Feist Pre-Doctoral Fellowship for her project “Androgen Deprivation Induces TET2, Priming Transcriptome Reprogramming and Neuroendrocrine Trans-Differentiation in Prostate Cancer.”

Krista Queen, PhD, Director of Viral Genomics and Surveillance for CEVT, was invited to present her work, ‘Investing and Sustaining Genome Surveillance is Critical for Stronger Pandemic and Epidemic Preparedness and Response,” at the Eastern Mediterranean Acute Respiratory Infection Surveillance (EMARIS) Network Conference, organized by the World Health Organization, Muscat, Oman, Mar. 13-15.

Matthew Scott, PhD, Pathology and Translational Pathology Fellow, received an award for Best Poster at the 2023 Vascular Biology Gordon Research Conference for his poster “The Role of EphA2 in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Mitogenic Signaling.”

Stephan Witt, PhD, FCSSI, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, served on two NIH study sections: Biophysical, Physiological, Pharmacological, and Bioengineering Neuroscience and Member Conflict: Topics in Neurobiology and Neuropharmacy.

LSU Health Shreveport Named New Site for Nationwide Study on Parkinson’s Disease in Black and African American Individuals

LSU Health Shreveport has partnered with The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) to become one of five sites participating in the Black and African American Connections to Parkinson’s Disease (BLAAC-PD) study, a project of the Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2) and the Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) initiative. MJFF serves as the implementation partner for GP2 and works with the ASAP initiative to coordinate a global program to conduct scientific research and analysis to identify genetic links to Parkinson’s disease.

It is estimated that nearly one million people in the United States are affected by Parkinson’s disease (PD), an age-related degenerative brain condition that impacts motor and cognitive function. It is the most common movement-related brain disease and the second-most common neurodegenerative disease.

The Black and African American Connections to Parkinson’s Disease (BLAAC-PD) research study seeks to learn more about gene changes that may cause Parkinson’s in Black and African American people. To date, 90% of genetics studies performed relating to Parkinson’s disease have involved populations of European ancestry, meaning that Black and African American individuals are underrepresented in current research data and the genetic impact on PD susceptibility in these populations is largely unknown.

“While great strides have been made in Parkinson’s disease research, there is still more to learn, especially regarding the genetic impact on disease development. Information gathered through studies like BLACC PD could lead to major breakthroughs in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Our team at LSU Health Shreveport is looking forward to working with GP2 and the Michael J. Fox Foundation to better understand PD and develop new therapies for all groups of people who are affected by this disease,” said Elizabeth Disbrow, PhD, Director of the Center for Brain Health and Professor of Neurology, who will lead the study at LSU Health Shreveport.

LSU Health Shreveport joins Rush University, University of Chicago, Kaiser Mid-Atlantic and University of Alabama at Birmingham as participating U.S. BLAAC-PD study sites

Medical Students Cardiovascular Research and Discovery Opportunities

The Center for Cardiovascular Diseases and Sciences (CCDS) has launched the Medical Students Cardiovascular Research and Discovery Opportunities (MS-CARDIO) for medical students to enjoy the opportunity to perform cardiovascular research in the lab of a CCDS faculty member. The summer program will run for 5 weeks, 40 hours per week, with the opportunity for students to extend their research into the following fall semester.

Participating students will have the opportunity to be mentored by one of fifteen CCDS members, participate in enrichments and seminars, mentor an undergraduate student in the CURIOUS Program, receive a stipend and present their research at the CCDS Symposium, MSRP poster session and at a national conference.

Grant Funding

Arrigo De Benedetti, PhD, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, received an LSU Collaborative Cancer Research Initiative (CCRI) Grant for his project “Identification of Gene Targets for Effective Cisplatin-Based Treatment of Prostate Cancer.”

Taichiro Nonaka, DDS, PhD, Assistant Professor of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, received an LSU CCRI Grant for his project “Targeting saliva as a novel strategy for cancer immunotherapy.”

Shile Huang, PhD, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, received an LSU CCRI Grant for his project “Reposition of the fungicide ciclopirox for triple negative breast cancer therapy.”

Xiuping Yu, PhD, Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, received an LSU CCRI Grant for her project “Targeting INSM1 for the treatment of neuroendocrine prostate cancer.”

Poster Presentation Winners

CLINICAL SCIENCE CATEGORY

1st Place – Kaitlyn Tholen

2nd Place – Miranda Duhon

3rd Place – Joshua Rosby

BASIC SCIENCE CATEGORY

1st Place – Chizoba “Ama” Mosieri

2nd Place (tie) – Ivan Alvarez and Morni Modi

3rd Place – Kristin Delgado

Medical Student Research Program

The LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine’s Medical Student Research Program (MSRP) had its largest number of participants in 2022 with over one-third of the first-year class participating. Fifty-three students showcased their research project findings at a competitive poster presentation on October 26. Students worked directly with a faculty mentor on their projects for 10-12 hours a week for five weeks over the summer. In addition to being able to share their work, students competed to receive an award in either basic science or clinical research. Over 30 judges participated in evaluating the projects. Sponsored by the School of Medicine’s Dean’s Office, the Medical Student Research Program fosters research activity, inspires students to learn more about the research process and generates quality research evidence, while also contributing to building of highly competitive resumes for the students when they apply for a residency program in their fourth year of medical school.

Biomedical Research and Industry Day Brings Scientists and Students Together

After being held virtually the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Biomedical Research and Industry Day (BRaID) was held in person on Thursday, October 20 and welcomed more than 170 registrants from academic institutions across North Louisiana. Biomedical Research and Industry Day is focused on bringing together students, trainees, and scientists conducting biomedical research to learn more about the interface between the research laboratory and commercial sector. The theme for this year’s conference was “Translational Science: Collaborative Innovation to Improve Health”. Research and industry experts from the Springfield Clinic, Abiomed, Inc., Pfizer, Inc. and the University of South Florida presented keynote presentations and participated in a panel question and answer session. The event also featured talks from students and postdoctoral fellows, a poster session, and networking opportunities. The 2022 BRaID conference was hosted at Louisiana State University Shreveport in collaboration with LSU Health Shreveport, University of Louisiana Monroe, and Louisiana Tech University. Special thank you to event sponsors Louisiana Startup Prize, LSUHS Center for Brain Health, LSUHS Center for Cardiovascular Diseases and Sciences, LSUHS Louisiana Addiction Research Center, and the Center for Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Sciences at Louisiana Tech University.

2022 Braid Award Winners

1st PLACE High School Student: Katherine Michael (LSUHS, SMART Program)

1st PLACE Undergraduate Student: Connor Haskins (LA Tech)

2nd PLACE Undergraduate Student: Audrey Lashley (LSUS)

1st PLACE Graduate Student: Utsab Subedi (LSUHS)

2nd PLACE Graduate Student: Jiyu Li (LSUHS)

3rd PLACE Graduate Student: Luisa Delgadillo (LSUHS)

1st PLACE Postdoctoral Fellow: Alex Finney, PhD (LSUHS)

2nd PLACE Postdoctoral Fellow: Randa Eshaq, PhD (LSUHS)

1st PLACE Medical Student: Ross Dies (LSUHS)

2nd PLACE Medical Student: Jay Manuel (LSUHS)

1st PLACE Clinical Fellow: Matthew Martin, PT, DPT (LSUHS)

LSUHS Hosts American Society for Microbiology Conference

The 2022 annual meeting of the South Central Branch of the American Society for Microbiology was hosted by LSU Health Shreveport’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Shreveport Convention Center October 27-29. The program consisted of keynote talks, oral and poster sessions, and social opportunities. The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) is the oldest and largest single life science membership organization in the world. The ASM South Central Branch was founded in 1947 and has a long history of providing opportunities for microbiologists, immunologists, and virologists from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas to share their work, network, and collaborate.

Bailey Mosher, PhD, Microbiology and Immunology Postdoctoral Fellow, received the inaugural Richard and Dennis O’Callaghan Award at the American Society of Microbiology South Central Branch Annual Meeting for best oral presentation in the Postdoctoral Fellow category.

Danielle Schaal, PhD Candidate, Microbiology and Immunology, received the Charles S. McCleskey Award at the ASM South Central Branch Annual Meeting for outstanding research presented by a doctoral student during an oral or poster presentation.

Second Annual Heart Health Day

Heart Health Day returned for its second annual health fair on Saturday, October 1 at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport - St. Mary Medical Center. This event was led by the LSU Health Shreveport Center of Excellence for Cardiovascular Diseases and Sciences (CCDS) and hosted by Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport. Each year, Heart Health Day serves the Shreveport-Bossier community by encouraging individuals to improve their overall cardiovascular health. The family-friendly event helps participants understand healthier lifestyle habits through educational videos and activities about heart health, and engagement with Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport healthcare professionals. This year, Heart Health Day welcomed more than 150 attendees and provided free health screenings to more than 120 people. Screening included EKG, cholesterol, glucose, BMI, ABI and blood pressure. Other event highlights included information on clinical trials and how heart health relates to brain health from the LSUHS Center for Brain Health, group exercise classes, one-on-one physician consultations, nutrition guidance, children’s activities, American Heart Association Hands-Only CPR training, free lunches and door prizes.

New Faculty

Mabruka Alfaidi, PhD, Instructor in Pathology & Translational Pathobiology

Rohit K. Jangra, PhD, Assistant Professor of Microbiology & Immunology

Baojin Ding, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Vinita Batra, PhD, Instructor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine

Hongyan Guo, PhD, Assistant Professor of Microbiology & Immunology

Tarek Magdy, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pathobiology & Translational Pathobiology

Joseph Dedrick Jordan, MD, PhD, Chair of Neurology

Omar Franco, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Sharee N. Light, PhD, Associate Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine

Shawn E. McNeil, MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine, Director of Neuroinformatics Research

Nirav Dhanesha, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pathology & Translational Pathobiology

LSU Health Shreveport Hosts Louisiana Junior Science and Humanities Symposium

LSU Health Shreveport hosted the Louisiana Junior Science Humanities and Symposium (JSHS) on Saturday, January 14 and Sunday, January 15. The event was one of 48 regional JSHS competitions that features presentations of original research conducted by high school students from around the state of Louisiana. At each of the regional competitions, three finalists are eligible to receive scholarship awards totaling $4,500 (awarded at $2,000, $1,500 and $1,000). Five regional finalists are awarded an all-expenses-paid trip to the National Symposium held in Bethesda, Maryland.

JSHS is designed to challenge and engage students in grades 9-12 in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). Forty-one students from across Louisiana competed for scholarships and recognition by presenting the results of their original research efforts before a panel of judges and an audience of their peers. Symposium participants also heard presentations of current research by the host universities, visited research and development laboratories, and met and exchanged ideas with practicing researchers and fellow students.

The Junior Science and Humanities Symposia Program is jointly sponsored by the United States Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, in cooperation with leading research universities throughout the nation. The National Association of Secondary School Principals has placed JSHS on the NASSP Advisory List of Contests and Activities.

1st place, $2000 scholarship, Sophie Chen, Caddo Parish Magnet High School

2nd place, $1500 scholarship, Andrew Minagar, Caddo Parish Magnet High School

3rd place, $1000 scholarship, Raj Letchuman, Caddo Parish Magnet High School

4th place, Keanna Luo, Baton Rouge Magnet High School

5th place, Ella Barker, St. Joseph’s Academy

All five students will attend the National JSHS to be held in April in Virginia Beach, VA. Sophie Chen and Andrew Minagar will present orally and vie for further scholarship. Raj Letchuman, Keanna Luo, and Ella Barker will present posters.

RESEARCH BY THE NUMBERS

4 Research Centers 6

3 Centers of Research Excellence

NIH Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE)

$EXTRAMURAL GRANT FUNDING

$26,111,984

TOTAL # OF GRANTS SUBMITTED 141

TOTAL # OF DISCLOSURES SUBMITTED 22

TOTAL # OF PATENTS FILED 13

TOTAL # OF PATENTS ISSUED 2